Steele can now finish out the school year, graduate in May and transfer without penalty.

Mississippi State released a statement Tuesday evening that Steele will not to play in 2013-14. The part-time starter has suffered two ACL tears and a broken wrist in his career.

After the release, Steele took to Twitter to explain this does not mean his career is finished.

"Hilarious. I'm not done playing; just wanted to take a year off to get stronger and be strong for my senior year," Steele wrote on his Twitter account (@Jalensteele0).

"All I wanted was a redshirt and (to) come back stronger next year but they got what they wanted," he later wrote.

MSU men's basketball coach Rick Ray told The Clarion-Ledger Tuesday night that Steele plans to play in 2014 — just not at Mississippi State.

"The release infers to some that Jalen's basketball career is over. That is not the case at all," Ray said. "Our medical staff recently fully cleared him to play. Jalen just wants to sit out this season because he feels physically and mentally not ready."

Ray said the program did not have an available scholarship for Steele in 2014-15. He said Steele will remain on scholarship and have access to MSU's trainers and academic resource center.

"He chose the option to graduate and play elsewhere next season," Ray said.

The 6-foot-3 guard from Knoxville, Tenn., averaged 10.1 points last year, second on the team.

The Bulldogs begin practice without Steele on Sept. 30. They open the regular season on Nov. 8 against Prairie View A&M.